This article is a brief rundown of the key legislative issues facing the vending industry at the moment. EVA members can of course login to our website in order to consult the latest EU Newsletter with further details and articles.

EVA Energy Measurement Protocol (EMP) 3.1a to be withdrawn.

Since the first version of the EN50597 was published at the end 2015, there has been a period of ambiguity whereby the EVA Technical Committee recommended that both the EVA Energy Measurement Protocol (EMP) 3.1a and EN50597 standard could be used simultaneously to measure energy consumption of refrigerated vending machines, as until the new Energy Labelling Regulation was approved the EMP remained the only protocol with an easy way to compare energy performance (via its unofficial energy scale).

This dual usage of protocols was only designed to be temporary until the EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations were approved, and was intended to last only a few months. Due to the unexpected delay from the EU Commission in finalising the new Regulations however, this period of ambiguity has lasted much longer than planned; a situation that can no longer sensibly continue for the industry.

Although the Regulations are still being finalised and approved, we already know the key contents. Namely, the testing measurement is to be done via the procedure set out in the updated EN50597:2018, and in terms of energy labelling we know that the best machines will realistically be a class C at best. Therefore any prolongation of the EMP 3.1a (and promotion of its energy scale of A++ – G) will only delay the shift the industry and customers need to become accustomed to in the near future.

The EVA Technical Committee has decided to withdraw the EMP 3.1a (chilled machines) as an industry protocol, and is currently setting an official date for the protocol to be withdrawn – an implementation period is needed as numerous marketing materials and websites of course take some time to be updated.

The EVA will be publishing a formal communication to help manufacturers and operators explain what is changing and why. This will include for instance that:

  • EMP energy consumption declarations are to be removed from websites, brochures etc. Websites and machine brochures will not be able to mention things like ‘rated A,’ ‘this machine has a high energy efficiency rating’ etc.
  • All machine model brochures/PDFs will have to remove EMP references and result declarations, and replace these with EN50597 testing results.
  • The EMP scale cannot appear as a label directly on a machine – although this is something that has always been the case.

While it is recognised that this decision means that there will be a period where it will not be possible to present energy consumption test results to clients by way of a comparable energy scale, the decision is taken nevertheless to ensure that the industry is well prepared for the imminent and significant upcoming changes being introduced by the new Regulations.

The Regulations are expected to be approved in the coming months, and apply from March 2021 (now date as yet unconfirmed).

The official date of the EMP 3.1a withdrawal will be communicated shortly.

NOTE: The EMP version 3.1b (hot and cold machines) still remains in force and will continue to do so. This information does not apply to the EMP 3.1b.

Details emerge for updating Machinery Directive

Following the announcement last year that the Machinery Directive is to be reviewed and updated, the EU Commission has published a roadmap setting out the estimated timescales and legislative steps. The first step is a public consultation, planned for mid of this year.

Public consultation opens into evaluation of Food Contact Materials legislation.

The aim of the consultation is to gather the views and evidence on the functioning of Regulation EC 1935/2004 and if the requirements set for businesses and public authorities remain appropriate. It also aims at gathering the views on the safety of food contact materials by experts as well as public citizens.

The EVA will be considering an appropriate response on behalf of the industry in the coming weeks.